@Philippines, People
Population: 69,808,930 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.92% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 27.34 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.94 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -1.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 50.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.39 years male: 62.88 years female: 68.02 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine Ethnic divisions: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3% Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3% Languages: Pilipino (official; based on Tagalog), English (official) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 90% male: 90% female: 90% Labor force: 24.12 million by occupation: agriculture 46%, industry and commerce 16%, services 18.5%, government 10%, other 9.5% (1989)
@Philippines, Government
Names: conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas Digraph: RP Type: republic Capital: Manila Administrative divisions: 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique, Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*, Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*, Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, General Santos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union, Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*, Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*, Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, Puerto Princesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*, Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (in Pangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*, Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US) National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain) Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987 Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992); Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); election last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1998); results - Fidel Valdes RAMOS won 23.6% of votes, a narrow plurality cabinet: Executive Secretary; appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Kongreso) Senate (Senado): elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1995); results - LDP 66%, NPC 20%, Lakas-NUCD 8%, Liberal 6%; seats - (24 total) LDP 15, NPC 5, Lakas-NUCD 2, Liberal 1, Independent 1 House of Representatives (Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan): elections last held 11 May 1992 (next election to be held NA May 1995); results - LDP 43.5%; Lakas-NUCD 25%, NPC 23.5%, Liberal 5%, KBL 3%; seats - (200 total) LDP 87, NPC 45, Lakas-NUCD 41, Liberal 15, NP 6, KBL 3, Independent 3 Judicial branch: Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipinas, Laban), Edgardo ESPIRITU; People Power-National Union of Christian Democrats (Lakas ng Edsa, NUCD and Partido Lakas Tao, Lakas/NUCD); Fidel V. RAMOS, President of the Republic, Raul MANGLAPUS, Jose de VENECIA, secretary general; Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Eduardo COJUANGCO; Liberal Party, Jovito SALONGA; People's Reform Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO; New Society Movement (Kilusan Bagong Lipunan; KBL), Imelda MARCOS; Nacionalista Party (NP), Salvador H. LAUREL, president Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE chancery: 1617 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 483-1414 FAX: (202) 328-7614 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): San Diego and San Jose (Saipan) US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador John D. NEGROPONTE embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000 mailing address: APO AP 96440 telephone: [632] 521-7116 FAX: [632] 522-4361 consulate(s) general: Cebu Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star
@Philippines, Economy
Overview: Domestic output in this primarily agricultural economy failed to grow in 1992 and rose only slightly in 1993. Drought and power supply problems hampered production, while inadequate revenues prevented government pump priming. Worker remittances helped to supplement GDP. A marked increase in capital goods imports, particularly power generating equipment, telecommunications equipment, and electronic data processors, contributed to 20% import growth in both 1992 and 1993. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $171 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 1.4% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $2,500 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.6% (1993) Unemployment rate: 9.2% (1993) Budget: revenues: $11.5 billion expenditures: $13 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1994 est.) Exports: $11.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: electronics, textiles, coconut products, cooper, fish partners: US 39%, Japan 18%, Germany 5%, UK 5%, Hong Kong 5% (1992) Imports: $17.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: raw materials 40%, capital goods 25%, petroleum products 10% partners: Japan 21%, US 18%, Taiwan 7%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Hong Kong 5%, South Korea 5% (1992) External debt: $34.1 billion (September 1993) Industrial production: growth rate -1% (1992 est.); accounts for 34% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 7,850,000 kW production: 28 billion kWh consumption per capita: 420 kWh (1992) Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing Agriculture: accounts for about 20% of GDP and about 45% of labor force; major crops - rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangos; animal products - pork, eggs, beef; net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; growers are producing more and better quality cannabis despite government eradication efforts; transit point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for the US Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $3.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $7.9 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries (1975-89), $123 million Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 27.725 (January 1994), 22.120 (1993), 25.512 (1992), 27.479 (1991), 24.311 (1990), 21.737 (1989) Fiscal year: calendar year
@Philippines, Communications
Railroads: 378 km operable on Luzon, 34% government owned (1982) Highways: total: 157,450 km paved: 22,400 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 85,050 km; unimproved earth 50,000 km (1988) Inland waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km Ports: Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Guimaras, Iloilo, Legaspi, Manila, Subic Bay Merchant marine: 553 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 8,451,047 GRT/13,934,255 DWT, bulk 241, cargo 145, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas 3, livestock carrier 9, oil tanker 33, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 12, vehicle carrier 35 note: many Philippine flag ships are foreign owned and are on the register for the purpose of long-term bare-boat charter back to their original owners who are principally in Japan and Germany Airports: total: 270 usable: 238 with permanent-surface runways: 74 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 9 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 57 Telecommunications: good international radio and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate; 872,900 telephones; broadcast stations - 267 AM (including 6 US), 55 FM, 33 TV (including 4 US); submarine cables extended to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT, and 11 domestic
@Philippines, Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy (including Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 17,668,781; fit for military service 12,479,312; reach military age (20) annually 733,880 (1994 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $731 million, 1.4% of GNP (1992)
@Pitcairn Islands
Header Affiliation: (dependent territory of the UK)
@Pitcairn Islands, Geography
Location: Oceania, Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Peru and New Zealand Map references: Oceania Area: total area: 47 sq km land area: 47 sq km comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 51 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March) Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: subject to typhoons (especially November to March) international agreements: NA
@Pitcairn Islands, People
Population: 71 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.93% (1994 est.) Birth rate: NA Death rate: NA Net migration rate: NA Infant mortality rate: NA Life expectancy at birth: NA Total fertility rate: NA Nationality: noun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutineers Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100% Languages: English (official), Tahitian/English dialect Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
@Pitcairn Islands, Government
Names: conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands Digraph: PC Type: dependent territory of the UK Capital: Adamstown Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK) Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK) National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June) Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964 Legal system: local island by-laws Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years residency Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (non-resident) of the Pitcairn Islands David Joseph MOSS (since NA September 1990); Commissioner (non-resident) G.D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liason person between the governor and the Island Council) head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since NA) Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council: elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) number of seats by party NA Judicial branch: Island Court Political parties and leaders: NA Other political or pressure groups: NA Member of: SPC Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK) US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK) Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
@Pitcairn Islands, Economy
Overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugar cane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships. National product: GDP $NA National product real growth rate: NA% National product per capita: $NA Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $430,000 expenditures: $429,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987 est.) Exports: $NA commodities: fruits, vegetables, curios partners: NA Imports: $NA commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs partners: NA External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate NA% Electricity: capacity: 110 kW production: 300,000 kWh consumption per capita: 5,360 kWh (1990) Industries: postage stamp sales, handicrafts Agriculture: based on subsistence fishing and farming; wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown; must import grain products Economic aid: recipient: ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000 Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.7771 (January 1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992), 1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989) Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Pitcairn Islands, Communications
Railroads: none Highways: total: 6.4 km unpaved: earth 6.4 km Ports: Bounty Bay Airports: none Telecommunications: 24 telephones; party line telephone service on the island; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; diesel generator provides electricity
@Pitcairn Islands, Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Poland, Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Germany and Belarus Map references: Asia, Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 312,680 sq km land area: 304,510 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than New Mexico Land boundaries: total 3,114 km, Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km Coastline: 491 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt Land use: arable land: 46% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 28% other: 12% Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: forest damage due to air pollution; improper means for disposal of large amounts of hazardous and industrial waste; severe water pollution from industrial and municipal sources; severe air pollution results from emissions of sulfur dioxide from coal-fired power plants natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
@Poland, People
Population: 38,654,561 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.35% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 13.44 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9.4 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.66 years male: 68.64 years female: 76.91 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish Ethnic divisions: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5% Languages: Polish Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1978) total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% Labor force: 17.329 million by occupation: industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%, trade, transport, and communications 14.7%, government and other 24.6% (1992)